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All Episodes

LeVar visits a pet show and discovers all kinds of unusual pets, including pet rocks. He explains that even during "tight times" there are all kinds of ways to have fun -- and that working together and using imagination are what is important. [26 minutes]

by Harry Allard and James Marshall - When their teacher has to go away for a week, the kids in room 207 have big plans to ?really act up.?
LeVar is surprised in this episode as he discovers a mysterious treasure hunt which leads him to be transformed by a make up artist, and then to a mysterious, magical performance by Black Stone the Magician. The real surprise turns out to be a birthday party for LeVar.
[29 minutes]

A kindergartner and her father change places for a day. Bea works in an office and her father goes to school. This show is about how people sometimes wish they were someone else. LeVar uses the costumes from Reading Rainbow to dress up like people he has always wanted to be, and points out the importance of being ourselves and striving to be all we can be. Viewers visit a young boy who tells how he started a library in his small town. [28 minutes]

by Verna Aardema - A cumulative rhyme relating how a young African boy brought rain to the drought-stricken Kapiti Plain. LeVar talks about rainy day activities including an aerial chase of a thunderstorm and puddle-hopping. Viewers visit the National Center for Atmospheric Research and learn about various aspects of weather and occupations that are dependent upon meteorology. [29 minutes]

by Arthur Yorinks - The feature book is a whale of a tale about a butcher who yearns to be a fish and turns into a salmon.
It inspires LeVar to go on an exploration of exotic marine life, tide pools, and dolphins while he explains that pretending to be someone else can be exciting and can also be a way of discovering how wonderful it is to be yourself. LeVar visits the New England Aquarium in Boston, MA, and the Aqua Circus of Cape Cod where trained dophins Dixie and Dolly reside.
[28 minutes]

by Aliki - This book introduces readers to many types of dinosaurs whose skeletons and reconstructions are seen in museums, and explains how scientists uncover, preserve, and study fossils. LeVar explores the fascination of dinosaurs who lived and then disappeared millions of years ago.
Humor is interspersed with interviews with a ranger and a paleontologist who take LeVar on a fossil tour of Dinosaur National Monument.
[29 minutes]

by Demi - Taken from an old Chinese legend, a poor boy who longs to paint is given a magic paintbrush that brings everything he paints to life.
LeVar explores how art is integrated into many aspects of the Chinese American culture. He takes a trip to New York City?s Chinatown and visits with an expert of Chinese calligraphy, a stonecarver who makes LeVar a name stamp, and a gourmet Chinese chef. He also takes viewers to the New York Institute of Technology where he is shown how to use computer graphics to create art. Then he participates in a Chinese parade.
[29 minutes]

by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat - A New York City boy has some preconceived ideas of life in the West and it makes him very apprehensive about the family?s move out there.
LeVar learns more about the West when he joins a biologist who shows him the Arizona desert and tells him about the plant and animal life?and he learns just what Gila monsters are.
[28 minutes]

by Gail Gibbons - It?s fresh and cold, foamy and white, and one of nature?s most nutritious foods?milk! Everyone learns about this delicious liquid as this book explains the process of how cows produce milk and how it is processed before being delivered to stores.
LeVar visits California?s dairy country where he receives a lesson on milking a cow by hand, as well as an introduction to the modern way of milking and feeding 600 cows. Viewers get a factory tour and see how cheese is made.
[28 minutes]

Burton introduces the episode by talking about cavern and cave exploring. The featured book, "The Magic School Bus Inside The Earth", is narrated by Keshia Knight Pulliam. Eccentric Ms. Frizzle takes her students on a science field trip to the center of the earth while teaching them about geology. Burton then visits California Caverns, where he learns about stalagmites, stalactites, and other crystal formations and goes spelunking with a cave expert. [28 minutes]

In an imaginary park called Discovery Park, host Levar Burton interviews inventors from different times in history. The first guest is a cave woman who is creating the bowl, the spoon and cooking- although she doesn't know what to do with the wheel. The second inventor is a young Thomas Edison busy creating the phonograph, along the first cousins of the box and walkman. "Alistair's Time Machine" read by Arnold Stang, tells the story of a boy who enters his school science fair with his time machine. The day before the contest, he tests his machine and travels back in time to and finds himself with knights,in Rome, and back in the days of cave people. But on the day of the fair, the machine won't work. Alistair thinks that he has no proof of his travels, but while walking home from school he is followed by a wilderbeast he sent back in time. In a video segment, students describe the machines they would create if they could make anything they wanted. Using old news reel footage, a announcer describes inventions that never caught on, including a plane that converts into a car. Finally the kids review three books, "The Many Lives of Benjamin Franklin", "What Does it Do?" and "Find Waldo Now". [28 minutes]

The focus of his program your head. Host LeVar Burton is the talking head reporter for Headline News. The feature story is "The Lady with a Ship on her Head", by Deborah Nourse Lattimore, read by Marilyn Pasekoff. After years of losing, Madam Pompenstance wants to win the annual headdress contest. While bending over to pick up sea shells for her hair, Madam Pompenstance doesn't notice when a very small triple mast ship docks on her head and anchors on to her ears. At the contest that night, the weight of the ship causes Madam Pompenstance to stand like the figure head of ship and she wins first prize with her salute to sailing. To rid herself of her headache, Madam Pompenstance returns to the beach. She bends over again and the small ship heads back out to sea. Other Headline News features include segments on hats, your brian, a visit to Astor Place the largest hair salon in NYC, and the "Greatful Heads" perform their song " I Ain't Got No Body". The kids review three books: "Moag-Moag, Space Barber", "An Enchanted Hair Tale" and "The Flyaway Pantaloons". " [28 minutes]

The focus of his program your head. Host LeVar Burton is the talking head reporter for Headline News. The feature story is "The Lady with a Ship on her Head", by Deborah Nourse Lattimore, read by Marilyn Pasekoff. After years of losing, Madam Pompenstance wants to win the annual headdress contest. While bending over to pick up sea shells for her hair, Madam Pompenstance doesn't notice when a very small triple mast ship docks on her head and anchors on to her ears. At the contest that night, the weight of the ship causes Madam Pompenstance to stand like the figure head of ship and she wins first prize with her salute to sailing. To rid herself of her headache, Madam Pompenstance returns to the beach. She bends over again and the small ship heads back out to sea. Other Headline News features include segments on hats, your brian, a visit to Astor Place the largest hair salon in NYC, and the "Greatful Heads" perform their song " I Ain't Got No Body". The kids review three books: "Moag-Moag, Space Barber", "An Enchanted Hair Tale" and "The Flyaway Pantaloons". " [28 minutes]

This episode of READING RAINBOW, "Come A Tide," focuses on the weather and its often destructive power. Host LeVar Burton presents facts about weather and shows how to make a rain gauge. Dixie Carter narrates COME A TIDE, written by George Ella Lyon and illustrated by Stephen Gammell, which is story about the effects of a spring flood in a small farming community. Burton also narrates a special feature on hurricane Hugo which devastated areas of South Carolina in 1989. At the end of the program, kids review TORNADO ALERT, WEATHER, and STORMS. [28 minutes]

In this episode of Reading Rainbow, Levarshows the kids how bats make their living at night. He talks to a scientist who explains the living stlyes and eating habits of the beasts of the night. The program also featurees the book STELLALUNA, written by Jannell Cannon and read by Anne Jackson. Levar also visits a research center as researchers explain why humans need sleep. Finally, the kids review the books AMAZING BATS, STEP INTO THE NIGHT and SLEEP IS FOR EVERYONE. [28 minutes]

In this heart warming episode of "Reading Rainbow," Levar talks candidly with homeless children. The program includes interviews with children who are effected by one of this country's largest problems. Included is a profile of the Castro family of Brooklyn, New York, who lost their home after a devestating fire. The program also includes a profile of two different children who are making an effort to help the nation's homeless. The book FLY AWAY HOME by Eve Bunting is read by Daniel Saltzman. [28 minutes]

In this episode of "Reading Rainbow," Levar is cooking in the kitchen with chef Curtis Aiken. From cutting onions to peeling tomatoes Chef Aiken shows Levar the basics to cooking and retaining natural flavors and vitamins in food. Also, the book "How To Make An Apple Pie and See the World" by Marjorie Priceman, is read by Helen Mirren. Finally the kids review the books "The Edible Pyramid,""Kids Around the World Cookbook" and "What Food Is This?" [28 minutes]

Levar shows us his travel room, a place very dear to him. His travel room has many maps and globes of places that he's visited. While we all love our own homes, we often imagine what it would be like to live somplace else. In this episode, we see what life is like in New York city, on the high seas, and in Hawaii. Books used in the this episode include "Somplace Else," "Me on the Map," "Town Mouse, Country Mouse," and "Somewhere in the World Right Now." [28 minutes]

This special episode of "Reading Rainbow" celebrates the joy and wonder of a child being born. We follow Tom and Kay Estes in their last couple of weeks before the birth of their fourth daughter. An actual birth is shown. The book "On The Day You Were Born" introduces the subject matter of birth. Other books featured in this episode are "How You Were Born", "One Round Moon And a Star For Me", and "A Teeny Tiny Baby". [28 minutes]

This week's episode is about performance. In "When Aunt Lena Did The Rumba" a little girl puts on her own musical to cheer up her sick Aunt Lena. The Boy's Choir of Harlem shows us the beauty of music through voice. Comedian Peter Patovsky shows how he makes people laugh. Then travel to Broadway for a glimpse of the hit musical "CATS". Books featured this week are "My Mama Had a Dancing Heart", "The Dancing Man", and "The Old Man Who Loved To Sing". [28 minutes]

Two friends, Wendell and Floyd, discover a secret shortcut -- in an effort to arrive at school on time -- which leads LeVar, in this math-based show, to explore the use of maps, mazes and other travel problem solving techniques. [28 minutes]